The answer:Outdoor cycling is definitely better—hands down. Why? It all comes down to balance. When you're riding outside, you're on a different terrain and in different conditions than you are when you're on an indoor bike in a controlled atmosphere. Outside, you've got sharp turns, rocky roads, stop lights, and the like—and as such, you have to work a lot harder to stay balanced through all of the various roadblocks, Justice says.

"Doing so requires more of a full-body workout than biking indoors. You're using more muscles to react to all of the conditions, so you end up burning more calories simply because the workload is greater overall," Justice explains.

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Now, don't worry—that doesn't mean that your SoulCycle or FlyWheel classes are a total bust! "There's definitely a time and a place for indoor cycling, and it's still a great workout," Justice confirms. (Phew!) "If it's crappy weather out, for instance, stationary bikes are a perfect way to still get your ride in."

"Or, more broadly, if you're the type of person who enjoys cycling classes more than braving the great outdoors, that's still an excellent form of exercise," he says. Point is, biking is a great workout no matter how you, um, spin it.

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